Do Battle With Darkness (mini sermon)

Today is a new day for me, I am posting my first mini sermon.  

I have always been drawn to preaching.  I remember being a child and wishing I could have been a boy, not because I disliked my femininity but because I knew if I was a boy I would become a preacher.   I am starting to recognize that many of the childhood desires, deep in my heart, were not mistakes or misunderstandings but callings and giftings that, until now, have largely been unrealized.  As I have begun to understand that the Lord showers freedom and unbounded gifting on both His sons AND daughters I am starting to revisit those childhood dreams and see that they are a part of His calling for me.  

I don't know to what extent the Lord wants to use my giftings.  I don’t suspect traditional seminary will ever be my thing.  I don’t have aspirations to go into the pastorate.  Actually, my big dream is to educate church leadership on abuse within faith communities. But sometimes I get a word from the Lord that seems to cross over the line of education into something more like exhortation.  Sometimes I feel a different kind of inspiration in my writing that prompts me to speak the words out loud instead of keeping them on paper. 

There is power in written word and there is power in spoken word but there is unequivocal power in the word of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of believers.  This is the power I draw from.  This is the authority I claim.

So, here is my first little message.  It isn’t long.  I am not "experienced" or "professional".  My recording system isn't anything special. I don’t have three points and a poem.  I don’t even know who is intended to hear it but I have faith that God's Word will not return void and that the message He laid on my heart was laid for a reason.

Here is a transcript of the message:

Satan has always hated women.  Eve was his first target and he has done everything in his power since to oppresses her, suppress her and silence her.  

Satan realizes the impact and potential of a woman free in the Spirit, set loose on the powers of darkness.  He realizes the strength of the force that would be against him if men and women united together as allies to fight, side by side, against the throws of Evil.  

So he oppresses her through thousands of years of Patriarchal systems and governments.

He suppresses her in her very spirit with lies that whisper “you are not worthy”,  “you are not strong enough”, “you are not God’s first choice as a messenger”.

He attempts to silence her voice even in the church by twisting God’s word’s (just like he did in the beginning).

But I tell you, there is an army rising up.  Chains are falling.  Women are becoming free.  They are finally embracing the opportunity to live in the fullness of their calling as image bearers.  Patriarchal systems are starting to collapse.  The demeaning inner voices are not only beginning to be recognized but challenged.  And the church is waking up, finally equipping women and thrusting them into their giftings unashamedly.

It is no coincidence that empowered women are leading the charge against poverty, human trafficking and injustice. This is exactly what Satan has been afraid of for thousands of years.  This is exactly why he has fought so hard against us.

We are his worst nightmare when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and unified together with our brothers through the Gospel.  For together we are a stronger force to push back the darkness.

With each step closer to the realization of unhindered, Spirit empowered women the Evil One cringes and retaliates but I tell you HE WILL NOT WIN.

For greater is He that is in you than He who is in the world.  And in Christ there is neither Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. We are all one in Jesus, seated in the Heavenlies with Him who has put all things under His feet.  We are more than conquerors through the empowerment of God’s Son. 

So I call you today to lean into God promises and empowerment for you.  Reject the lies that Satan whispers in your ear.  Do not confine yourself to oppressive systems or other’s expectations of you.  Live free in the calling He has for you no matter how bold, or humble it may be.  Be joined together, sisters and brothers.  Do battle with darkness.  For who the Son has set free is free indeed. Amen.

-Ashley Easter